Montserrat's beaches, with their soft pearl-grey volcanic sand, are special. The only non-volcanic white sand beach is Rendezvous Beach, the furthest north, which is only accessible by boat or a stiff hike but is well worth the effort. Its remoteness gives it a special charm, and you may have it all to yourselves. Take along plenty of cold water to drink. All the beaches are on the west coast, and working our way down the coast.

Little Bay, near Festival Village, is popular for swimming, and you can watch boats coming in and out of the Port at the northern end. Beach bars are nearby, as well as the Good Life Restaurant, for a drink or snack.

Next we come to the secluded and lesser-known Bunkum Bay, a real treasure spot at the bottom of St Peters' lower road (and now boasts a beach bar); and the attractive Woodlands Beach, with a covered picnic area on the cliff above the beach. Watch out for rough waves - inexperienced swimmers and children should be closely supervised.

Then there's Lime Kiln Beach, a secluded and out of the way spot, and Old Road Bay, for years a favorite bathing beach. Here, the volcanic mudflows have moved the shoreline downwards so that what was once a jetty, sticking out into the water, is now landlocked on the beach. Jumping Jack's Beach Bar and Restaurant is nearby for your refreshments. You can also take a walk across to the isolated Isles Bay Beach.

Furthest south is Foxes Bay, where you can see what volcanic ash and hurricanes have done: the former bird sanctuary and mangrove swamp with tree trunks stripped bare (the birds have migrated further north), and the ruin of a former Rotary Club refreshment booth. However, all around are renewed green wooded surroundings.